Bloodcurdling Scream MTG Card


Card provides crucial combat power spikes, altering the battlefield dynamic in a single turn. Instant speed casting maximizes tactical plays, offering surprise and flexibility in duels. Despite its benefits, the card’s discard cost and specific mana needs may limit use.
Bloodcurdling Scream - Portal Second Age
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityUncommon
TypeSorcery
Released1998-06-24
Set symbol
Set namePortal Second Age
Set codeP02
Number63
Frame1997
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byDan Frazier

Text of card

Any one creature gets +X/+0 until the end of the turn.

"I have all the weapons my enemies have—and far deeper rage." —Tojira, swamp queen


Cards like Bloodcurdling Scream

Bloodcurdling Scream shares its space in Magic’s vast underworld of enchantments that alter a creature’s capabilities. Like its cousin Unholy Strength, Bloodcurdling Scream offers a power boost to creatures, though Unholy Strength provides a static increase without the scalable element. Where Bloodcurdling Scream excels is in its flexibility, allowing players to spend any amount of mana to increase the creature’s power to higher levels, tailor-made for the moment’s needs.

Another peer in this arena is Dragon Breath, which also endows creatures with a substantial power increase. The distinct advantage of Dragon Breath is its automatic attachment to a creature when it enters the battlefield from the graveyard, granting not just strength but also haste. However, Bloodcurdling Scream’s continuous variability stands out, giving players on-demand control over the potential damage without being once-off or contingent on graveyard shenanigans.

Finally, scaling the mystical energies, we find cards like Ghitu War Cry which, similar to Bloodcurdling Scream, allows for incremental boosting. Though Ghitu War Cry is directed at a group of creatures, it remains at the sorcery speed domain, whereas Bloodcurdling Scream maintains the capability for surprise during combat. Analyzing these enchantments showcases Bloodcurdling Scream as a formidable tool for those wanting precise and reactive power management in their MTG strategies.

Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Dragon Breath - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions
Unholy Strength - MTG Card versions
Dragon Breath - MTG Card versions
Ghitu War Cry - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Bloodcurdling Scream offers players the chance to swing combat outcomes by increasing a creature’s power significantly for a turn, potentially turning the tide of battle and pressuring your opponent, leading to better board control.

Resource Acceleration: By potentially eliminating blockers or adversaries through its temporary but sizable power boost, you pave the way for more efficient attacks, thereby optimizing your resource allocation. This can often translate into an accelerated pace towards victory.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Bloodcurdling Scream at instant speed provides you with the flexibility to make strategic moves during the opponent’s turn, surprise an opponent during combat, or even sneak in a game-winning amount of damage. This flexibility is key in maintaining the element of surprise and disrupting your opponent’s tactics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One of the drawbacks of the Bloodcurdling Scream card is that activating its ability necessitates discarding another card. This can be a significant setback when your hand is already depleted, and the choices for discarding are either limited or detrimental to your strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: Bloodcurdling Scream requires black mana to be cast. This makes it less versatile as it ties you to a deck that runs on black mana sources, potentially hindering its inclusion in multi-colored decks that might not support the color consistently.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: When you consider the cost to benefit ratio, the casting cost for Bloodcurdling Scream might feel steep. With other cards in the same mana range providing perhaps broader or more impactful effects, the cost of using this card could outweigh the potential benefits, especially in a fast-paced match where efficiency is key.


Reasons to Include Bloodcurdling Scream in Your Collection

Versatility: Bloodcurdling Scream is a card that can seamlessly integrate into different deck styles, particularly those harnessing the power of a black mana base. Its ability to give a single creature a significant power boost can turn any unassuming creature into a formidable threat.

Combo Potential: This card can work wonders in combination with strategies that thrive on high-power creatures. Imagine pairing it with effects that trigger on creature attacks or cards that benefit from creatures with power thresholds. The possibilities it offers can be a game-changer in the right deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given the dynamic nature of MTG, adaptability is key, and Bloodcurdling Scream can play an essential role against decks that are ill-prepared for sudden, aggressive swings. Whether you’re undermining stalling tactics or bypassing defenders, this card has its place in a meta that can’t always anticipate the power spike it delivers.


How to beat

The Bloodcurdling Scream card in Magic: The Gathering presents a unique challenge with its ability to boost a creature’s power at the cost of mana for each point of power gained. To effectively counter this card, it’s essential to anticipate and disrupt your opponent’s strategy. Keeping removal spells or counterspells in hand can quickly neutralize the threat of an enhanced creature. Targeted removals like Fatal Push or Path to Exile offer precise solutions against a creature buffed with Bloodcurdling Scream.

Alternatively, you can utilize bounce spells such as Unsummon to return the augmented creature to your opponent’s hand, undoing their mana investment and buying you time. Using instant-speed interaction is key to outmaneuvering the tactics enabled by Bloodcurdling Scream. Additionally, sweepers like Wrath of God can clean the board and offer a reset button against an overwhelming buildup of creature power. It’s a game of patience and timing but with the right mix of disruption, you can ensure that the scream of your opponent’s creature is nothing more than a whimper.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Bloodcurdling Scream MTG card by a specific set like Portal Second Age, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Bloodcurdling Scream and other MTG cards:

TCGPlayerBUY NOW
BurnMana is an official partner of TCGPlayer
Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See MTG Products

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Bloodcurdling Scream has restrictions

FormatLegality
PredhLegal
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal